Executive Director, Mortenson Family Foundation
Ambar Cristina Hanson, MPA, is the Executive Director of the Mortenson Family Foundation. She oversees the Expanding Opportunities for Children and Families grant program.
Ambar moved to Minnesota from the Dominican Republic 24 years ago. Since moving to the U.S., Ambar has been dedicated to promoting and advocating for immigrant communities and communities of color to have equal opportunity and access to higher education, jobs that provide livable wages, health, housing, and safety.
Before working in philanthropy, Ambar worked as the Chief external Relations Officer at Hiawatha Academies, and prior to this role, she spent over ten years, advocating for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors through several roles at Casa de Esperanza and the National Latina Network for Healthy Families and Communities.
Currently, Ambar serves as a board trustee for the Minnesota Council of Foundations, Latino Economic Development Center, and Bigelow Foundation. She is also a member of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Alumni of Color Association.
Ambar lives with her partner and two children in South Minneapolis, where they enjoy dancing, hosting gatherings, and taking music lessons together.
